Annals of International Medical and Dental Research- Volume 5, Issue 4, July- August 2019

ISSN (0):2395-2822; ISSN (P):2395-2814

Problems Encountered by Dental Students
Understanding Oral Histology and Dental Anatomy:
Cross-Sectional Study.

Sonia Gupta', Suheel Hamid Latoo*, Mohammad Shafi Dar?
‘Tutor, Department of Oral Pathology, Govt. Dental College & Hospital, Srinagar.

2Associate Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, Govt. Dental College & Hospital, Srinagar.
3Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology, Govt. Dental College & Hospital, Srinagar.

Received: May 2019
Accepted: May 2019

Copyright: © the author(s), publisher. It is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ABSTRACT

Background: Dental anatomy and oral histology as a subject need comprehensive information for its application in
every wake of academic as well as clinical life. It's also the responsibility of the trainers for a brighter prospect and
enhancement in their academic field. Aim and objectives of the study: To analyze the problems encountered by the
dental students in understanding oral histology and dental anatomy as well as to find out the necessary solutions to
overcome these problems. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study will be conducted in the department of Oral
Pathology, GDC Srinagar where the prepared questionnaires will be distributed to all the undergraduate students and

interns of GDC, Srinagar. The questionnaire will be in the form of multiple choice questions and designed in such a way
which will be simple to understand and answer. Results: In the present study, dental students have satisfactory
knowledge of this concerned discipline of dentistry but there are still gaps between the understanding and interest for
this subject in the students. Conclusion: In the present study, students felt problems/difficulties which are easy to
handle if proper measures are taken. By making few variations in their recent curriculum, it can be make more
interesting and comprehensive for the future aspirants.

Keywords: Dental education, Oral histology, Dental anatomy, Knowledge.

judgments on a regular basis. This would aware the
staff to difficult situations, and solve them."! It is
the responsibility of all dental institutions to
confirm that upcoming dentists are being raised in a
compassionate manner and the challenging
environment encourages education in a positive

INTRODUCTION

With the global program towards ensuring quality
in education, greater focus is involved in pursuing
feedback and assessing participant’s satisfaction.
Students are among the key participants in the

dental education course since they are the direct
beneficiaries of this course. Dental mentors are
likely for ensuring a positive academic knowledge
for dental students."'7!| Special attentions on
student-centered education means that the
awareness of the student towards their educational
atmosphere is important.%! Dental health courses
need to be continuously evaluated and assessed in
order to offer recent technical innovations of
dentistry as well as the demands of optimum oral
health.“ The aim of the professional institutions is
to offer utmost educational and environmental
services so that the

graduate students achieve

Name & Address of Corresponding Author
Dr. Sonia Gupta

Tutor

Department of Oral Pathology,

Govt. Dental College & Hospital,

higHes@4rofessional standards. To attain this, it is

Annals of Intenational Medical and Dental Research, Vol (5), Issue (4)

way. The learning milieu is an essential element of
behaviour. Milieu is perceived by students and it is
judgements of environment that are associated with
behaviour. !°8]

Dental anatomy is defined as study of the
development, morphology, function, and identity of
each of the teeth in the human dentitions, as well as
the way in which the teeth relate in shape, form,
structure, color, and function to the other teeth in
the same dental arch and to the teeth in the
opposing arch.”! Dental anatomy and oral histology
as a subject require in-depth information for its
application in every wake of academic as well as
clinical life. It’s also the duty of the teachers for a
brighter prospect and enhancement in_ their
academic field. To the best of our information and
after searching various data, no studies were found
to be carried out in this respect. The aim of the
present study was to analyze the problems
encountered by the dental students in understanding
oral histology and dental anatomy as well as to find

Page 40

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out the necessary solutions to overcome these
problems.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted
in the department of Oral Pathology, GDC Srinagar
where the prepared questionnaires was distributed
to all the undergraduate students and interns of
GDC, Srinagar. The study was approved by the
ethical committee of the college. The questionnaire
was pretested, validated and close ended. The
validation was determined using Cronbach’s alpha
for test-retest and its value came out to be 0.90. All
the participants were clarified the objectives of the
study. The questionnaire was given to each
individual and the subjects were requested to
respond anonymously but to mention their gender,
age and educational qualification. The total study
sample of 122 subjects was divided into 5 groups:-
Group I: 27 subjects of BDS Ist year

Group II: 23 subjects of BDS 2nd year

Group III: 21 subjects of BDS 3rd year

Group IV: 31 subjects of BDS Final year

Group V: 20 subjects of Interns

Those internship subjects who had done BDS from
outside and postgraduate students of this institution
were excluded from the study. The questionnaire
was in the form of multiple choice questions and
consisted of two, three and four alternatives as well
as aimed in such a way which was easy to
understand and answer. The questionnaire
composed of three parts with part a included
demographic details, part B comprised of 10
questions focusing on dental anatomy & oral
histology theory as well as part C consisted of 10
questions focusing on dental anatomy & oral
histology practical. The data was collected and
statistically analysed with the help of SPSS

software (statistical package for social sciences)
version 21.0 using Pearson chi-square test, Pearson
correlation coefficient test and Cronbach’s alpha
reliability test. A probability value of < 0.05 was
considered to be statistically significant.

RESULTS

All the 122 participants were responded to
questionnaire. Out of these, 82 (67.2%) were
females and 40 (32.8%). The results in [Table 1]
showed 35.2% of the participants have attended all
theory classes and the results were found to be
Statistically significant. Out of 122 participants,
45.1% of the students spent 3 days in a week in
theory classes and majority of the students (82.8%)
understood the topics covered in the theory classes.
The results were found to be statistically
significant. In this study, 42.6% of the students
stated that the topics discussed in the classes will
be useful in future and the results were significant.
In the present study, 21.3 % of the students asked
the staff to discuss the topic again, in case of
problems but 54.1% of the students sometimes
asked the staff for the same and the results were
found to be statistically significant. A 60.7% of the
students felt that the lectures taken by the staff
provide an in depth view of the subject and the
results were not significant. Most of the students
(82%) satisfied with the teaching skills of staff with
Statistically significant results. A total of 57
(46.7%) students felt that internet, books and notes
can be a good source of knowledge and the results
were not significant. Out of 122 students, only 42
students have presented seminars with statistically
significant results. In the present study, 59.8% of
the students have encountered difficulties in
understanding and remembering oral histology. The
results were not significant.

Table 1: Questions focusing on dental anatomy & oral histology theory

S.No | Questions Answers Group I Group II Group HI | Group IV Group Total Chi- P-value
Vv square
Ql. Have you attended | Yes 5 (18.5%) 6 (26.1%) 7 (33.3%) 17 (54.8%) 8 (40%) 43 9.60 0.043*
all theory classes in (35.2%)
dental anatomy &
Oral histology?
No 22 (81.5%) | 17 14 14 (45.2%) | 12 79
(73.9%) (66.7%) (60%) (64.8%)
Q2. How many days ina | 3 16 (59.3%) 0 (0) 12 15 12 55 39.90 <0.001*
week do you have (57.1%) (48.4%) (60%) (45.1%)
theory class?
2 1 (3.7%) 9 (39.1%) 3 (14.3%) 7 (22.6%) 3 (15%) 23
(18.9%)
4 5 (18.5%) 1 (4.3%) 1 (4.8%) 0 (0) 0 (0) 7 (5.7%)
5 5 (18.5%) 13 5 (23.8%) 9 5 a7
(56.5%) (29%) (25%) (30.3%)
Q3. Do you understand | Yes 16 (59.3%) 18 20 29 (93.5%) 18 101 16.35 0.003*
the topics covered in (78.3%) (95.2%) (90%) (82.8%)
the theory class? No 11 (40.7% 5 (21.7%) 1 2 2 21
(4.8%) (6.5%) (10%) (17.2%)
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Q4. What type of | Interesting 9 9 8 10 (32.3%) 9 (45%) 45 31.85 0.001*
response produced | and (33.3%) (39.1%) (38.1%) (36.9%)
in your mind after | encourage
completion of topics | further
in classes? teaching
Difficult 7 1 0 5 (16.1%) 2 (10%) 15
and think | (25.9%) (4.3%) (0) (12.3%)
never
attend the
class
Useful in | 9 6 (26.1%) 13 16 8 52
future (33.3%) (61.9%) (51.6%) (40%) (42.6%)
None of | 2 7 (30.4%) 0 0 1 10
the above (7.4%) (0) (0) (5%) (8.2%)
Q5. Have you asked your | Yes 4 3 1 12 6 (30%) 26 51.91 <0.001*
staff to discuss the (14.8%) (13%) (4.8%) (38.7%) (21.3%)
topic again, in case | No 11 4 (17.4%) 2 0 0 17
of problems? (40.7%) (9.5%) (0) (0) (13.9%)
Sometimes 11 8 (34.8%) 17 17 13 66
(40.7%) (81%) (54.8%) (65%) (54.1%)
Occasional 1 8 (34.8%) 1 2 1 13
ly (3.7%) (4.8%) (6.5%) (5%) (10.7%)
Q6. Have the number of | Yes 13 20 11 20 (64.5%) 10 74 10.18 0.071
lectures taken by the (48.1%) (87%) (52.4%) (50%) (60.7%)
staff sufficient to
provide an in-depth
view of the subject?
No 14 (51.9% 3 (13%) 10 11 (35.5%) 10 48
(47.6%) (50%) (39.3%)
Q7. Have you satisfied | Yes 17 tS 21 (100%) 28 (90.3%) 19 100 19.35 0.002*
with the teaching (63%) (65.2%) (95%) (82%)
skills of your staff? No 10 8 0 3 1 22
(37%) (34.8%) (0) (9.7%) (5%) (18%)
Q8. What is your basic | Internet 1 2 0 3 2 (10%) 8 15.07 0.231
source of knowledge (3.7%) (8.7%) (0) (9.7%) (6.6%)
about the topics? Books 8 (29.6%) 15 12 11 (35.5%) 9 (45%) 55
(65.2%) (57.1%) (45.1%)
Notes 1 0 1 0 0 2
(3.7%) (0) (4.8%) (0) (0) (1.6%)
All of the | 17 (63%) 6 (26.1%) 8 (38.1%) 17 (54.8%) 9 (45%) 57
above (46.7%)
Q9. Have you presented | Yes 3 (11.1%) 6 (26.1%) 12 15 (48.4%) 6 (30%) 42 14.86 0.002*
seminars related to (57.1%) (34.4%)
oral histology or | No 24 (88.9%) 17 9 (42.9%) 16 (51.6%) 14 80
dental anatomy? (73.9%) (70%) (65.6%)
Q10. In which subject | Dental 11 (40.7%) 13 11 9 5 (25%) 49 7.38 0.194
have you | anatomy (56.5%) (52.4%) (29%) (40.2%)
encountered
difficulties in
understanding and
remembering? Oral 16 (59.3%) 10 10 22 15 73
histology (43.5%) (47.6%) (71%) (75%) (59.8%)

*Statistically Significant Difference (P-value<0.05) Group I: BDS 1st year, Group II: BDS 2nd year, Group III: BDS 3rd year, Group IV: BDS Final year,
Group V: Interns

Table 2: Questions focusing on dental anatomy & oral histology practical

S. Questions | Answers | Group Group Group III Group Group Total Chi- P-

No I II IV Vv square value

Ql. How many | 3 8 0 2 24 11 45 45.503 <0.001
days do (29.6%) (0) (9.5%) (77.4%) (55%) (36.9%) *

ON a 2 19 23 19 7 9 71
ames (70.4%) | (100%) | (90.5%) (22.6%) (45%) (63.1%)
week? 4 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0(0)

5 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0)

Q2. Have you | Yes 12 12 11 24 12 71 TAT 0.113
attended all (44.4%) (52.2%) (52.4%) (77.4%) (60%) (58.2%)
becebiie No 15 1 10 7 8 51
ee (55.6%) | (47.8%) | (47.6%) (22.6%) | (40%) | (41.8%)
carving : : 5 : :
and slides?

Q3. Do you | Yes 16 18 13 7 4 58 32.36 <0.001
feel (59.3%) (78.3%) (61.9%) (22.6%) (20%) (47.5%) .
difficulty No 11 5 8 24 16 64
in carving (40.7%) (21.7%) (38.1%) (77.4%) (80%) (52.5%)

a tooth?

Q4. How often | Daily 2 2 1 5 2 12 13.57 0.331
have you (7.4%) (8.7%) (4.8%) (16.1%) (10%) (9.8%)

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viewed Before 6 6 12 15 9 48
oral practical (22.2%) (26.1%) (57.1%) (48.4%) (45%) (39.3%)
histology Before 10 8 4 7 6 35
atlas? exam (37%) (34.8%) (19%) (22.6%) (30%) (28.7%)
Never 9 7 4 4 3 27
(33.3%) (30.4%) (19%) (12.9%) (15%) (22.1%)

QS. Do you | Yes 10 11 14 26 14 75 33.53 <0.001
make an (37%) (47.8%) (66.7%) (83.9%) (70%) (61.5%) =
effort to | No 4 5 0 3 1 13
read and (14.8%) (21.7%) (0) (9.7%) (5%) (10.7%)
understand | Sometim | 12 5 5 0 1 23
the tooth | es (44.4%) (21.7%) (23.8%) (0) (5%) (18.9%)
before you | Occasion | 1 2 2 2 4 inl
can carve? | ally (3.7%) (8.7%) (9.5%) (6.5%) (20%) (9%)

Q6. Have you | Very 1 2 4 8 3 18 28.86 0.003*
identified well (3.7%) (8.7%) (19%) (25.8%) (15%) (14.8%)
the Well 10 12 6 16 8 52
histologica (37%) (52.2%) (28.6%) (51.6%) (40%) (42.6%)

1 features | Sometim | 11 9 ial 7 9 47

seen on a | es (40.7%) (39.1%) (52.4%) (22.6%) (45%) (38.5%)

slide? Never 5 0 0 0 0 5
(18.5%) __|_ (0) (0) (0) (0) (4.1%)

Q7. Have you | Yes 17 18 21 26 17 99 11.19 0.024*
read _ the (63%) (78.3%) (100%) (83.9%) (85%) (81.1%)
histology No 10 5 0 5 3 23
topics (37%) (21.7%) (0) (16.1%) (15%) (18.9%)
before you
can see the
slides?

Q8. Do you | Yes 8 20 20 28 18 94 48.74 <0.001
draw (29.6%) (87%) (95.2%) (90.3%) (90%) (77%) =
histologica | No 8 0 1 3 1 13
1 diagram (29.6%) (0) (4.8%) (9.7%) (5%) (10.7%)
for each | Sometim | 10 3 0 0 1 14
slide? es (37%) (13%) (0) (0) (5%) (11.5%)

Occasion | | 0 0 0 0 1
ally (3.7%) (0) (0) (0) (0) (0.8%)

Q9. What is the | Identifica | 1 5 7 13 8 (40%) | 34 70.53 <0.001
main tion (3.7%) (21.7%) (33.3%) (41.9%) (27.9%) *
problem Drawing 7 13 14 18 (58.1% | 12 64
having you (25.9%) (56.5%) (66.7%) (60%) (52.5%)
faced Rememb | 3 3 0 0 0 6
during ering (11.1%) | (13%) (0) (0) (0) (4.9%)
practical All of the | 16 2 0 0 0 18
exam? above (59.3%) (8.7%) (0) (0) (0) (14.8%)

Q10. | Do you | Yes 11 20 20 26 18 95 28.73 <0.001
practice for (40.7%) (87%) (95.2%) (83.9%) (90%) (77.9%) *
histologica
1 diagrams
before your
exam?

*Statistically Significant Difference (P-value<0.05) Group I: BDS Ist year, Group II: BDS 2nd year, Group III: BDS 3rd year, Group IV: BDS Final year,

Group V: Interns

The results in [Table 2] revealed that 63.1% of the
students have spent 3 days in a week in practical
classes and the results were found to be statistically
significant. Out of 122 participants, 58.2% (77)
students have attended all classes related to carving
and slides with non-significant results. A total of
52.5% of the students have felt difficulty in carving
a tooth and the results were significant. Out of 122
students, 9.8% and 39.3% of the students have
viewed oral histology atlas daily and _ before
practical respectively. The results were not
significant. In the present study, 61.5 % of the
students have made an effort to read and
understand the tooth before carving with a
Statistically significant result. This study revealed
that only 14.8 % of the students have very well

identified the histological features seen on a slide
with a_ significant result. Majority of the
participants (81.1%) have read the histology topics
before viewing the slides and the results were
found to be significant. Out of 122 participants,
81.1% have drawn histological diagram for each
slide and the results were significant. Out of 122
students, 77% students have drawn histological
diagram for each slide with significant results. A
52.5 % of the students felt that the greatest
difficulty that they face is drawing whereas 27.9 %
students felt that identification during exam is the
main difficulty. The results were found to be
Statistically significant. Most of the students
(77.9%) have practiced for histological diagram
before exam with a statistically significant result.

Annals of Intenational Medical and Dental Research, Vol (5), Issue (4)

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DISCUSSION

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine
the problems/ difficulties faced by the dental
students in oral histology and dental anatomy
theory as well as practical classes. In the present
study, 64.8 % students have not attended all theory
classes in dental anatomy and oral histology as well
as 40.2% participants have encountered difficulties
in understanding and remembering dental anatomy.
Out of 122 students, 52.5 % of the students felt that
the greatest difficulty that they face during practical
exam is drawing the histological slides. The
performance can be enhanced by the digitalization
of slides as well as students have to put an effort
for making the histological diagram. In this study,
dental students have satisfactory knowledge of this
concemed discipline of dentistry but there are still
gaps between the understanding and interest for
this subject in the students. It can be due to the fact
that the students consider this subject as a non-
clinical having a lesser scope for practice. This can
be modified by introducing 3D animation
technology so as to make the classes more
interactive and interesting.“°! These innovative
ideas modify the curriculum so that the students
may show more interest in their studies. Learning
milieu means the culture of a class, school or an
institution and its governing codes &
characteristics, including how students perceive
that environment, as well as the way in which the
teachers may organize the educational curriculum
to facilitate learning.""'!7! Thus, an effort to make
and maintain a supportive atmosphere for study,
without compromising on quality of teaching and
this can only be accomplished through student’s
response and improvements in the curriculum done
by the institutions. Dental mentors are responsible
for good learning opportunities which act as
motivators for students as well as best teaching
promotes quality.{'3!41

CONCLUSION

The present study determined that the
problems/difficulties of dental students in their
recent curriculum in the subject of dental anatomy
and oral histology theory as well as_ practical
classes. They felt difficulties which are easy to
handle if proper measures are taken. By making
few variations in their recent curriculum, it can be
make more interesting and comprehensive for the
future aspirants.

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How to cite this article: Gupta S, Latoo SH, Dar MS.
Problems Encountered by Dental Students in
Understanding Oral Histology and Dental Anatomy: A

Cross-Sectional Study. Ann. Int. Med. Den. Res. 2019;
5(4):DE40-DE44.

Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None declared

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